Mukhriz Mahathir today stressed that he remains Kedah menteri besar until it is proved otherwise in the state assembly.
“I am still here. My government exists. It is not true that the Kedah government has fallen,” he told a press conference in Alor Star today.
This follows announcements by several assemblymen saying that he had lost the support of the majority in the state assembly.
The Bersatu deputy president said as far as he was concerned, the political situation in Kedah is under control.
“Claims by several parties that this state government has fallen is untrue. There are some processes (to be undertaken) that involve the Kedah sultan.
“We can’t make any decision based on press conferences. There must be official correspondence from those with authority.
“We have to adhere to the state constitution,” he said.
Mukhriz said that the opposition should have tabled a motion of no confidence against him during the state assembly sitting and not by collecting statutory declarations (SD) from assemblymen.
Mukhriz, who had already resigned from the post once four years ago, was seen as under pressure to do so again following the move by two PKR assemblymen yesterday who quit their party and declared support for Muhyiddin Yassin, tipping the balance of power in PAS’ favour.
Kedah opposition leader Muhamad Sanusi Md Nor, meanwhile, said at a press conference earlier that day that 23 of the 36 assemblymen in the state had lost confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership.
He also said all 23 had signed statutory declarations (SDs) to that effect.
But Mukhriz dismissed this, saying an authoritative source is needed on any loss of confidence in his leadership.
“Who are we to believe what is said in a press conference by the opposition leader?
“What SDs?” he added. “Before this, I met with all Pakatan Harapan and PPBM assemblymen, and they too signed a SD supporting my leadership and consented to forming a PH-PPBM state government. That was when the federal government fell to Perikatan Nasional.”
Adding that all parties must respect the state constitution, he said members have a right to propose a motion against him in the assembly.
When asked how he felt, he said it “looked like the season for betrayal”.
“What am I to feel when a person is betrayed? This has happened before,” he added.
He also questioned the timing of the circumstances, asking why the opposition leader was insisting that the change in power must take place by May 18.
“They say they are not hungry for power. Can’t they wait a few more weeks?”
Earlier today, Mukhriz had chaired his weekly exco meeting, which included deciding on preventive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Three exco members were absent from the meeting – Lunas rep Azman Nasrudin, who had announced yesterday that he was quitting PKR, as well as two Bersatu reps, Halimaton Saadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam) and Mohd Firdaus Ahmad (Kuah).
Yesterday, PKR assemblymen Robert Ling Kui Ee (Sidam) and Azman announced their defections to Perikatan Nasional, paving the way for the collapse of the Mukhriz-led Bersatu-Pakatan Harapan state government.
The defections give Perikatan the majority in the 36-member state assembly.
Currently, PAS has 15 seats while Umno has two.
All 19 assemblymen had said they had lost confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership.